“Of course” the figure vanished. The Queen stood. It was time to pay her friend Leonardo a visit.

Cheshire Cat lay spread eagled under his covers wearing only a pair of silk boxers when the Red Queen entered his room.

“Hello Leo” she laughed. He jumped, instantly alert and then a wide grin spread across his face, inhumanly large it was a sign that he was readying to teleport. The Queen was ready and shot a bolt of lightning into his chest, only enough to stun, but enough for pain nonetheless. She smiled and stood over him.

“Long time no see” he groaned. The Red Queen looked him over coolly, not as though he was a human, but a tool for her own pleasure.

“You always did keep in shape” she nodded to his toned body.

“And you have a habit of not letting yourself go” Leonardo grinned. Sparks jumped across her fingers.

“Move and die” she hissed, her expression turned stormy momentarily and her ruby red eyes began to glow. A sign she could fire lightning at any time.

“Don't worry I have no intention of vanishing. So, what's up?” He asked non-chalantly.

“Always so cheerful in private yet so serious in public” she sat in his desk chair.

“It’s a skill” Leonardo shrugged.

“Funny. Not.” “Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.”

“You’d know.”

“Touché.”

“So Leo, how’ve you been since I left?” She gestured to the numerous papers piled around the room. “Keeping busy I see. And you've found a new little pawn to play with” the Red Queen stood up and leant over him.